"He who overcomes, I will make

him a pillar in the temple of My

God, and he will not go out from

it anymore; and I will write on

him the name of My God, and

the name of the city of My God,

the new Jerusalem, which comes

down out of heaven from My

God, and My new name." Rev 3:12

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Christian maturity

Spiritual maturity should be our priority

Christian maturity is not granted with the new

birth in Christ. We are born as babies, we

need to grow. Some resist growth.

'And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to

spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to

infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not

solid food; for you were not yet able to

receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet

able, for you are still fleshly.' 1 Cor 3:1-3

'For though by this time you ought to be

teachers, you have need again for someone to

teach you the elementary principles of the

oracles of God, and you have come to need

milk and not solid food. For everyone who

partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the

word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But

solid food is for the mature, who because of

practice have their senses trained to discern

good and evil.' Heb 5:12-14

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As a believer, we are not to be milk-fed.

Instead, we are called to chew on the "meat"

of God's Word. Discover God's truth by Bible

study to feed ourselves spiritually. Then we

need to apply that sustenance to our life as we

walk in the Holy Spirit.

Christian maturity is not an aging process

Spiritual growth is not measured by how long

we have been a Christian. Spiritual maturity is

a process which begins when a person accepts

Jesus Christ as Saviour. He or she is born

again of the Holy Spirit and then chooses to

grow "in Christ." Maturity depends on how

much and how quickly we devote ourselves to

learning how to obey Christ and how best to

imitate His life. Some will mature into the

completeness of the Christ life in a relatively

short time in comparison to others who go on

ever learning but never understanding what

they are supposed to be doing. 2 Tim 3:7

The maturing process is never finished. “Let

us go on to maturity,” (Heb 6:1) Spiritual

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growth is an ongoing process. "Not that I have

already obtained all this, or have already

been made perfect, but I press on to take hold

of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have

taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting

what is behind and straining toward what is

ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the

prize for which God has called me

heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:12-14

God’s purpose is to produce people who fulfil

their born again life in Christ. People who

become the godly children God has designed

for them as His chosen community. As growth

towards Christ's likeness is endless, maturity

is not an end we can ever achieve; we are to

keep on growing and progressing as we

become more like Christ Jesus.

Christian maturity is not automatic

Those who accept the idea that we wait in

comfort until God move us on towards

maturity have believed a serious deception.

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When we become Christians, God has only

begun His work in us. We must grow in the

knowledge of the Lord and put that

knowledge of Him into practice. As God

works in us we work out what He is working

in us so we become like Christ. Phil 2:12-13

Therefore, in order for Christian maturity to

develop in our life, we must make a choice to

learn God's Word if indeed we love Him, and

at the same time allow God to renew our mind

as we are eager to always being obedient to

what we learn. "Do not conform any longer to

the pattern of this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind. Then you will

be able to test and approve what God's will is

- his good, pleasing and perfect will." Rom 12:2

Christian maturity is not head knowledge

While the gaining of biblical information is of

some value; it is only as the principles of

Scripture are worked out in daily obedience

that spiritual growth is advanced. Bible study

can be largely a deceptive exercise that leaves

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the life unchanged. 'If I have all knowledge

and do not love, I am nothing.' 1 Cor 13:2

The gaining of some knowledge is important

because having spiritual maturity means we

are able to give an answer for the hope we

have in Christ. 'Sanctify Christ as Lord in

your hearts, always being ready to make a

defence to everyone who asks you to give an

account for the hope that is in you, yet with

gentleness and reverence.' 1 Pet 3:15

Christian maturity is not the spiritual gifts

Spiritual gifts are given to all who come to

Christ; they are given when we are just new

born babies. (1 Cor 12:1-26) But maturity is only

seen if spiritual gifts are exercised in love and

only as they result in the unity and building up

of the church.

The true measure of Christian maturity is not

the possession of gifts of the Spirit, but the

production of the fruit of the Spirit, which is

the Spirit's life working in us, so that the gifts

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have a meaningful work in building up the

body of Christ. Gal 5:22-23

Christian maturity is walking in the Spirit

Spiritual maturity is learning how to walk in

obedience to God; always choosing to live by

God's viewpoint rather than our human

viewpoint. 'But I say, walk by the Spirit, and

you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.'

'If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the

Spirit.' Gal 5:16, 25

To walk by the Spirit is to walk with His

purpose in mind. It is learning to walk under

His instruction. Since believers are indwelt by

the Spirit, 'you are not in the flesh but in the

Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in

you.' (Rom 8:9) We should therefore also walk

under His control. To walk in the Holy Spirit's

control we need to study God's Word! "Do

your best to present yourself to God as one

approved, a workman who does not need to be

ashamed and who correctly handles the word

of truth…All Scripture is God-breathed and is

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useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and

training in righteousness, so that the man of

God may be thoroughly equipped for every

good work." (2 Tim 2:15 3:16-17) As we walk

and we apply God's Word to our life, we will

grow spiritually.

Therefore every aspect of our lives needs to

be surrendered to the Spirit according to His

word as we wait on Him for guidance as to

what we do and even think. The Spirit is the

one who knows all things, and we are the ones

who have known nothing of living according

to the divine nature we have received. So we

defer to the Spirit of God in every aspect of

our lives if we are to be filled up to the

fullness of God in Christ Jesus. This means

we deny our will in preference for His will.

We deny our human thought in preference for

His thoughts. We deny our self esteem in

preference for His esteem. And we deny the

things of the world in preference for the things

of God.

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Consequently if we want understanding and

wisdom, it is always available for our benefit.

If we are to live with God and walk in the

Spirit we cannot decide on having another

opinion other than His. It is impossible to

walk in the Spirit and ignore what He has

revealed as the will of God for us to live by.

Christian maturity means to be complete

To be mature is to reach a state of complete

development as much as is possible on earth.

It is to come to arrive at a point where we

become useful workers in the kingdom of

God. It is the attaining of a standard which is

reveals the proper meaning for our existence.

To be mature means to be complete or full

grown in Christlike character and experience.

It is used of the full development of adulthood

as compared with the immaturity of a child.

Christian maturity is simply Christ likeness.

We are considered to be mature as much as

we are like Christ, and no more. The supreme

goal of the church is not evangelism. The

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ultimate goal of God is stated by Paul when

he wrote: “We proclaim him, teaching

everyone with all wisdom, so that we may

present everyone complete in Christ”(Col. 1:28)

God’s ultimate purpose for our new birth is to

produce disciples who reflect the perfect

humanity of His Son. 'And we know that God

causes all things to work together for good to

those who love God, to those who are called

according to His purpose. For those whom He

foreknew, He also predestined to become

conformed to the image of His Son, so that He

would be the firstborn among many brethren.' Rom 8:28-29

Christian maturity requires perseverance

Christian maturity is achieved when we go on

living in obedience to Christ, regardless of the

cost or the difficulties we need to endure.

Christian maturity is persevering in the faith.

Christian maturity means overcoming the

world and its darkness as we walk in the light

of God's Spirit. To persevere in the faith is to

never compromise what the Lord God has

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revealed should be our life according to His

Word.

The Lord Jesus tells us that perseverance is of

vital importance when He said: "Because

lawlessness is increased, most people’s love

will grow cold. But the one who endures to the

end, he will be saved." Matt 24:12-13

The Lord Jesus indicates to us that

perseverance is not to be neglected even under

severe pressure to compromise. "Do not fear

what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil

is about to cast some of you into prison, so

that you will be tested, and you will have

tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until

death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev 2:10

Christian maturity means being able to

teach

Christian maturity should find its fulfilment in

making disciples, this means being able to

explain the gospel of God in a way that gives

the ignorant the real message of salvation. It

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means being able to explain man's

predicament of lawlessness and disobedient

rebellion in the face of God's eternal

judgment; and God's gracious solution to

man's problem in Jesus Christ.

The mature must be able to explain the price

paid for their sins, and the cost of following

Jesus Christ.

They must be able to explain what it is to be

born again of God. How that means death to

the former life so that the life of God's Spirit

can impart into them the image of His Son.

'Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly,

I say to you, unless one is born again he

cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus

answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless

one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot

enter into the kingdom of God. That which is

born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is

born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:3, 5-6

' See to it that no one takes you captive through

philosophy and empty deception, according to

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the tradition of men, according to the

elementary principles of the world, rather than

according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness

of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you

have been made complete, and He is the head

over all rule and authority; and in Him you

were also circumcised with a circumcision

made without hands, in the removal of the

body of the flesh by the circumcision of

Christ; having been buried with Him in

baptism, in which you were also raised up with

Him through faith in the working of God, who

raised Him from the dead. When you were

dead in your transgressions and the

uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you

alive together with Him, having forgiven us all

our transgressions, having cancelled out the

certificate of debt consisting of decrees against

us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken

it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.' Col 2:8-14

We must be able to explain how we deny our

self and take up our cross to follow Jesus'

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example. 'He was saying to them all, “If

anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny

himself, and take up his cross daily and follow

Me." Luke 9:23

Being mature means we are able to give an

example of entering through the narrow gate

as we separate ourselves from the ways of the

world to live a sacrificial life as Disciples of

Christ, dedicated to be like Him. “Enter

through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide

and the way is broad that leads to destruction,

and there are many who enter through it. For

the gate is small and the way is narrow that

leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matt 7:13-14

'Have this attitude in yourselves which was

also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed

in the form of God, did not regard equality

with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied

Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,

and being made in the likeness of men. Being

found in appearance as a man, He humbled

Himself by becoming obedient to the point of

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death, even death on a cross. For this reason

also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed

on Him the name which is above every

name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee

will bow, of those who are in heaven and on

earth and under the earth, and that every

tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.' Phil 2:5-11

The mature Christian must know what Jesus

commanded us to do; otherwise they will be

unable to teach others to obey all He has

commanded us to do as His disciples. "Go

therefore and make disciples of all the

nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father and the Son and the Holy

Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I

commanded you; and lo, I am with you

always, even to the end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20

The mature Christian will trust in the Lord

Jesus and remember His promises to love and

abide in us always. "Just as the Father has

loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My

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love. If you keep My commandments, you will

abide in My love; just as I have kept My

Father’s commandments and abide in His

love. These things I have spoken to you so that

My joy may be in you, and that your joy may

be made full." John 15:9-11

The mature Christian will be fruitful in the

kingdom of God. "Abide in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless

it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless

you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the

branches; he who abides in Me and I in him,

he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you

can do nothing." John 15:4-5

The mature Christian must be able to explain

clearly the person and work of the Holy Spirit;

along with His governance in their lives so

that He is worshipped and obeyed even as the

Father and the Son.

Spiritual Maturity means living In Christ

In order to experience spiritual maturity, you

must also understand that growth comes by

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grace and it is God alone who is your

resource. "His divine power has given us

everything we need for life and godliness

through our knowledge of him who called us

by his own glory and goodness. Through these

he has given us his very great and precious

promises, so that through them you may

participate in the divine nature and escape the

corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add

to your faith goodness; and to goodness,

knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;

and to self-control, perseverance; and to

perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,

brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness,

love. For if you possess these qualities in

increasing measure, they will keep you from

being ineffective and unproductive in your

knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if

anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted

and blind, and has forgotten that he has been

cleansed from his past sins." 2 Pet 1:3-9

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When we became a child of God, we were

given all you need "in Christ" to become a

spiritually maturing believer. However, we

are responsible for making the right choice to

lovingly respond with thankfulness and zeal.

We need to choose to use and apply God's

principles to our life. The wonderful thing

about being in submission to God's maturing

process is that we will be changed. We don't

have to worry about becoming mature. God

does the changing when we work out what He

is working in us. He will conform us to the

image of Jesus Christ as we humbly surrender

to His Holy Spirit and learn what His Word

gives us as the will of God in Christ.

Christian maturity means a life of service

'But Jesus called them to Himself and said,

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord

it over them, and their great men exercise

authority over them. It is not this way among

you, but whoever wishes to become great

among you shall be your servant, and whoever

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wishes to be first among you shall be your

slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to

be served, but to serve, and to give His life a

ransom for many.” Matt 20:25-28

God seeks true spiritual maturity

True spiritual maturity is not based on

exciting experiences. While all true Christians

are spiritual according to the word of God

because they possess the Spirit, (Rom 8:6-9) not

all Christians are spiritually mature. As Paul

shows us; 'And I, brethren, could not speak to

you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh,

as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to

drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able

to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet

able, for you are still fleshly. For since there

is jealousy and strife among you, are you not

fleshly, and are you not walking like mere

men? 1 Cor 3:1-3

None of us should feel too confident since we

all face the same problem. Sometime we act

in immature and childish ways. Spiritual

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maturity is not a condition we enter as a

permanent place in our spiritual experience.

True spirituality is maintained by daily living

obediently according to the word of God on a

moment by moment walk in the Spirit. Which

means, when we live under the control of the

Spirit He will teach and leads us into all

righteousness. John 16:13

Spiritually mature believers have a deep

awareness of their position in Christ which

gives them a greater awareness of sin. They

realise they are in a daily struggle with Satan's

attempts to get them to compromise their

faith; and therefore their need to die to life in

the flesh according to the world daily. (1Cor

15:31) Their ultimate goal is to be imitators of

Christ. (1 Cor 11:1) So that it is no longer they

who live for themselves, but Christ who lives

in them. (Gal 2:20) 'Until we all attain to the

unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the

Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure

of the stature which belongs to the fullness of

Christ.' (Eph 4:13) Always wanting to be able

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to say; 'For to me, to live is Christ and to die

is gain.' Phil 1:21

Being conformed to the image and likeness of

God is to have a godly life; a life which is

revealed to us in the life and sacrifice of Jesus

Christ; for as He is we will be if we seek first

the Kingdom of God according to His

thoughts, and behave as He would. Jesus said:

"I am the way, the truth and the life; no one

can come to the Father but through Me.” John 3:16

What we believe about Him and ourselves

determines the way we think, and our

thoughts determine the way we behave and

speak. As we think we behave. If we think as

He thinks about us we will be conformed to

His godly image and have His character and

remain in His love.

If we are conformed to His image by the

power of His Spirit we will behave as He

wills, and we will speak to Him and others as

if we are speaking the words of God.

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Therefore to know our real identity as mature

disciples of Jesus we need to look to Jesus

who now lives in us. "He who overcomes, I

will make him a pillar in the temple of My

God, and he will not go out from it anymore;

and I will write on him the name of My God,

and the name of the city of My God, the new

Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven

from My God, and My new name." Rev 3:12

'May the God of peace, who through the blood

of the eternal covenant brought back from the

dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of

the sheep, equip you with everything good for

doing his will, and may he work in us what is

pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to

whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.' Heb 13:20-21